Machine for straightening axles and frames of automobiles



API-i123, 1940. ,L FRED 2,198,434

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND FRAMES 0F AUTOMOBILES Filed Dgc. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l N S* hwt P N l m c l l LII- o) f u y of @EL 5 Iii` N A; v

[E l N N N V V) N V Q 0 o o DC I N MN Q N N n Y Y q' r1- l N H H- k l1- Apnl z3, 1940. 4 J. FRIE'D 2.198.434

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AXLES AND FRAES OF- AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedApr. 23, 1940 I 2,198,434 l f vMACHINE FOB STBAIGHTENING AXLES AND FRAMES OF'AUTOMOBILES v John Fried, Peoria, 1li. Application December 3, 1937, Serial No. 177,945

z claims.

This invention has reference to machines or tools for straightening distorted automobile axles, automobile frame members, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable machine for the above purpose wherein the parts applied directly to the work for straightening purposes may be presented to such work in either a horizontal plane or a vertical plane.

Another object lies in providing a main carl0 rier member for the operating parts so mounted that it may be turned'about a horizontal axis whereby said operating parts may lie in and be presented to the work in either of two planes lying at right angles to each other.

Another and important object is to provide a portable machine for the purpose named herein so fashioned and equipped that the parts thereof for straightening distorted automobile axles or frames may perform the work of straight- 2o ening without requiring taking down the automobile.

A further object of the invention lies in' the provision of means for easily and accurately adjusting to various heights and positions a mainI member for carrying the `work engaging and bending parts. l

Again, an object is to mount the work engaging and bending parts of a machine of the nature described so that they may be quickly and easily adjusted accurately to their required positions at an axle or frame to accomplish their work.

In order that the invention may be fully understood the appended drawings are provided where- Figure 1 is a plan of my member straightening machine.

Figure 2 is a transverse section, on a larger scale, of parts'of a pivotal mounting for a main member of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in perspective a part of a main member of the machine wherein a part shown in Figure 2 is illustrated.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of parts of a mounting shown in Figure 2. y Figure 5 is similar to a part of what is shown in Figure 4 but showing a main member in a different position from that illustrated in that gllre.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6a is a modication of parts shown in Figure 6. Y

Figure 7 is a transverse section of a main 'mem- 55 ber of the machine showing other parts in connection therewith, part of the latter being also shown in section, and

Figure 8 shows part of the structure appearing in Figure 7, the whole having been swung through an angle of 90 from that in the gure named.'

Up to the present time the manner of straightening distorted automobile axles and frame members has presented quite a problem due to the fact that the apparatus has not been available for all the requirements unless the vehicle is dis- 10 assembled so that the members to be straightened can be properly handled for the best results.

The machine about to be -described'is of a portable type and is so appointed that the parts thereof for application to the job of straighten- 15 ing can be brought into action in the desired plane for a given requirement, and the work perfectly done without such disassembling of the vehicle.

In the drawings, I designates a pair of spaced 20 upstanding members suitably mounted and braced on and secured to a platform consisting of members 2, 3 and 4,.for example, mounted on castors 5.

Pivotally mounted at one of their ends oneach g5 member I are two arms 6 paralleling each other. Said arms extend in a forward direction, and in this instance, only, overhang the members 3.

Suspended between the arms at their forward ends is what may be termed a tool carrying mem- 30 ber 'I consisting, in this instance, of two so called channels lying back to back and spaced to leave a space 8 between them as best shown in Figure 3. A bracket 9 caps each end of the member 'I serving to secure the two parts in their 35 spaced relation and each having an extension or gudgeon I0 extending therefrom and in this instance having holes I I transversely therethrough at right angles to each other.

'I'he forward ends of the named arms 6 are 40 pivoted each to a part I2 carrying an extension I3 having a hole to receive'through it the named gudgeon I0, said extension also provided with a hole through it to receive a pin I4, the latter extending through a hole II of the gudgeon and serving to prevent separation of the part I2 from said member l and fixing the two in rigid relation in a desired position.

As shown in Figure 6a, as a modification of parts of the arrangement just described, the member 'l may be suspended by its gudgeons I Il in a part I2' directly between the extremities of the arms 6, the extensions I3 of the part I2 of the other figures being in this instance unnecessary.

Pivoted between the said arms 6 near each upright members I is a block I5 through which extends, vertically, a threadbar I6 whose lower end may abut a iixed portion such as a bracket I1, for example, on each such member.

The member 1 made up of the channels is of considerable length, in practice, and therefore the slot 8 is of substantially equal extent therewith, said slot receiving the parts employed in straightening operations. In the present instance two bars I8, which may be termed tools one having a hook I8', extend through the slot in direction substantially at right angles to the channels, and each has a series of holes I9 any one of which may receive a pin 20 for limiting the endwise movement of the bar with respect to the channels, and the pins 20 may extend through blocks 2I which abut the member 1, and they also extend through said bars I8, though any other arrangement may be used answering a like purpose. Also lying within the slot 8 and extending forward of the member 1 is a bar or tool 22 as part of an open link or frame 23 lying rearward of said member. Within the frame and abutting an end portion thereof is a jack 24 of approved type whose opposite portion abuts the member-1, see Figure '1 particularly, the said portion of said jack having a hook-extension 24 to engage over a web of said member 1 to hold said jack in operating position, and the free extremity of the bar 22 is provided with a hook 22 to y engage the work to be acted upon.

Y the hook 22 of the arm 22 has been engaged with the axle at the far side beyond such bend. Further, that the end of the axle opposite that thus engaged is engaged by the hook i8 of the other bar I8. Upon the operation of the jack to exert a pull' upon the bent portion of the axle the forces will be applied to the bar I8 at the named bend, the opposite end of the axle -being held by the said hook I8 of the bar at that end, the said axle being eventually straightened.

Since the slot 8 in the member 1 is continuous through that member any special arrangement of the bars I8 and jack carrying device 22, 23

may be had by shifting said bars to the` needed position relative to the work in hand.

By providing the parallel pivoted arms 6 and means to positively operate them the member 1 may be easily and quickly adjusted to position at the work whether the vehicle is standing on a floor o1' upon an elevated runway or other raised arrangement, and `since said member 1 is prevented from rotating by the pin I4, Figure 4, the bars I8 and 22 may be maintained in horizontal positions, Figure 7, ready forV quick application to the work, this being due to the parallelism maintained at the said arms i.

It, now, the axle of the standing car has an upward or downward oend, or a member of the cars frame is thus bent-the withdrawal of the pin I4, and a rotation of the member 1 places the bars I8, 22 in a vertical plane almost instantly, Figure 8, ready for the bending operation and at any height of the work above the floor, the adjustment of the arm 8, as before, providing therefor.

Naturally, any member whether part of a vehicle or not may be operated upon to change its form, as contemplated herein.

'I'he tool carrying member may, of course, be carried otherwise than at the extremes of the pairs of two parallel arms 6 shown but the latter arrangement is preferred as being more convenient for permitting faster adjustment in preparing for the work to be performed. In the interest of brevity and clarity I shall refer, in certain of the claims, to the part I2 and the structure 6, Figure 6, as "an arm" since these when taken together constitute the support for the member 1, Figure 1.

I claim:

1. The combination in a machine of the nature described including a portable support having portions adapted to be raised and lowered, of a relatively long and narrow member having an I opening extending lengthwise thereof for receiving tools for operating upon a piece of work, said member lying between said portions in its longest measurement, one of the named elements having an opening and the other having an extension to engage in said opening permitting ro tation of the member about its longest axis, said extension having a pair of holes therein lying at right angles to each other, and a pin extending through one .of the portions adapted to engage in either of the holes.

2. The combination in a machine of the nature described including a support having two portions adapted to be shifted to dierent positions in height, of a relatively long member suspended between its ends on said portions and adapted to rotate and having a pair of holes therethrough Within one of said portions, said holes lying at right angles to each other, said member consisting of two spaced elements creating a longitudinally extending opening between them, a series of work engaging tools in said space and engageable with at least one of the elements as an abutment therefor, said tools being shiftable laterally and longitudinally of the constituted member, and a pin extending through a portion adapted to selectively engage in the named holes of the member for securing the latter and the said portion relatively in an adjusted position of such member. l

JOHN FRIED. 

